A Long Obedience

One of my New Year's resolutions was similar to last year's...to read a book a week. I'm not sure if I managed to make it last year because I quit keeping track of them. So this year I've been writing the books down as I go, hoping to be more diligent in my record keeping. (So far I'm good!)

Another resolution is to blog more frequently about the books I've read (notice I didn't say simply to blog more frequently. I'd be in sorry shape if that was the case!) I have a book that I want to share with you all. It's called "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction," by Eugen Peterson.

First, I want to say something about the author. His most famous work is the paraphrase of the Bible, "The Message." Personally, I don't like this book and that's one of the reasons I've put off reading other things of his. But I want to tell you that has been such a mistake on my part. A few months ago I picked up "Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places." What a deep and intriguing read! I had gotten it from the library, so I couldn't mark in it. Atter reading about half way I took it back, intending to buy it instead. It's still on my wish list, but I will own it soon.

"A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" caught my eye because of the subtitle: Discipleship in an Instant Society. (Plus I just loved the title!) Then I found out it's a discussion about a pilgrim's journey through life using the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). I've been reading the Psalms daily for a few years now, so I guess I was ready to delve more deeply into these particular ones. I've always loved them anyway. The Jews would sing them as they made pilgrimages up to Jerusalem for the major feasts and festivals. To use them as our songs as we travel upward to the New Jerusalem is just beautiful. I so appreciate Peterson for this body of work.

I'll give you just a taste of this book. Psalm 123 speaks of service and starts with these words:

I lift up my eyes to You,
to You whose throne is in heaven.
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God
till He shows us His mercy.

Peterson writes a whole chapter on each Psalm, but part of what he writes concerning this one is this:

"We are presented with the God of exodus and Easter, the God of Sinai and Calvary. If we want to understand God, we must do it on his terms. If we want to see God the way he really is, we must look to the place of authority."

"The Christian is a person who recognizes that our real problem is not in achieving freedom but in learning service under a better master."

After talking about the paradox of liberation in Christian service, he ends the chapter with this short sentence:

"A servant Christian is the freest person on earth."

This book is wonderful. If you love the Psalms, it's a great investment.